Excited to be joining up with Pittsburgh’s fantastic Boilermaker Jazz Band to sing at CUALX (Catholic University of America Lindy Exchange) this Friday, March 21, 2014! My husband, trombonist Lucian Cobb, and I will be filling in for regulars Gerry and Jennie.
It’s a college Lindy exchange, but we hope the college kids and the rest of the DC swing dance community will come swing out!
On the heels of Lindy Focus, I will be making another appearance with Los Angeles’ own Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five at the Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout in Denver, Colorado, for two nights of performances, February 21 and 22, 2014. I have enjoyed DJ’ing this event in the past and am excited to return as a part of the live music for the weekend. Denver is such a fun place to visit – looking forward to dancing, singing, and dinner and cocktails at Steuben’s. 😀
Lindy Focus was such a tidal wave of positive energy this year – even though I didn’t have a lot of down time, all that energy kept me going and going! I got to work with some of the most amazing musicians and dancers, and even spin some tunes in the Balboa room. 🙂 It was an honor to be invited to be in the New Year’s Eve show, done to live music for the first time, and to work with Evita Arce, who is the creative genius who put together the show from scratch. It was a pleasure to perform with Jonathan Stout and his all-star band of musicians – the energy from the band performances was immense and infectious!
I’ve posted below my contributions to the New Year’s Eve show – a recreation of the Duke Ellington Short “Bli Blip” with whiz kid Jon Tigert and a performance of “Sunny Side of the Street” featuring tapper extraordinare Mike Herring – and a version of “Me Myself and I” performed with Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five. Campus Five first:
I’m excited to announce that I will be DJ’ing and singing at Lindy Focus this year! I’ll resume my spot, along with DJ Kristy Milliken, at the Avalon Balboa Dance Party, the late night Balboa room at Lindy Focus. I’ll be joining Jonathan Stout‘s bands on vocals for three nights, singing with Campus Five, the Rhythm Busters, and the Jonathan Stout Orchestra on New Year’s Eve! To say that I am excited would be an understatement – looking forward to it and all the dancing, as well! 😀
I am excited, in general, that Durham is having its second annual Tweed Ride, hosted by Seven Stars Cycles, but I am even more excited that it will be MORE than just a ride and that Clark Stern and I will be performing some hot jazz and, knowing Clark, a little jump blues. Come out in your best tweeds, inflate the tires on your bike, and join us on November 17 for a brief jaunt around Durham, ending with merriment, music, and awards at Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub!
It’s a dream to be able to perform with my band at Glen Echo’s Spanish Ballroom
After a pretty low-key summer, the Mint Julep Jazz Band is kicking things into high gear – starting Labor Day weekend, we have gigs four weekends in a row:
August 30, 2013 – Music on the Porch – This is our last outdoor gig of the season and a rare chance to perform in Raleigh. Join us with your pic-a-nic baskets and come hang out on the grass!
3301 Pollock Place
Raleigh, NC
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Admission: $7.00 for adults, kids get in free
August 31, 2013 – Mint Julep Quintet at G2B Gastro Pub
3211 Shannon Road #106
Durham, NC
8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
We recommend making a reservation if you would like to eat or have a seat – please specify that you would like to be seated in the jazz lounge.
September 7, 2013 – Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park – I can’t really tell you how excited I am that the Mint Julep Jazz Band is playing this wonderful, beautiful, historic ballroom! Special thanks to the Jam Cellar for bringing us up to perform.
7300 MacArthur Blvd
Glen Echo, MD
9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Admission: $16.00
September 13, 2013 – Mint Julep Quintet at G2B Gastro Pub
3211 Shannon Road #106
Durham, NC
8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
We recommend making a reservation if you would like to eat or have a seat – please specify that you would like to be seated in the jazz lounge.
We’ll be at another historic ballroom on September 14 at the Lewis Ginter Recreation Association
September 14, 2013 – John Ennis and Ruth Brown’s Anniversary Swing Dance
Lewis Ginter Recreation Association
3421 Hawthorne Avenue
Richmond, VA
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission: $10.00
September 21, 2013 – This is not a Mint Julep Jazz Band gig, but Lucian and I will be returning to Glen Echo’s Spanish Ballroom to perform with the Craig Gildner Big Band!
7300 MacArthur Blvd
Glen Echo, MD
9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Admission: $18.00
It’s that time of year – the time every year where I drive 8 1/2 hours to my Mecca-of-sorts, All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. There will definitely be a vintage shopping excursion (with a report), with some old favorites and perhaps a new shop for Lindy Shopper. And cupcakes.
I’m looking forward to working with the many of you who volunteered to participate in All Balboa Weekend’s 1940’s fashion show, as well as seeing all the wonderful clothing that you are bringing and that Val and the vendors are providing for the show!
I am also looking forward to performing with my band, the Mint Julep Jazz Band, at the Friday night dance and to singing with the Boilermaker Jazz Band on Saturday. This is really a dream come true, to be able to have my band perform at my favorite dance weekend of the year, and I’m just…over the moon right now. EXCITED!
Last, but certainly not least, I am one of the main DJs for the weekend, along with head DJ Kyle Smith and fellow blogger Christian Bossert of Swing DJ Resources.
Yes, I will be doing ALL THE THINGS. Including dancing. 😀
I hope to see some of you there, please come up and introduce yourself if we are not already acquainted.
Onward to Cleveland!
The Craig Gildner Big Band is making its debut on February 16, 2012 at Glen Echo Park and Craig has invited my husband, trombone player Lucian Cobb, and I to perform with the band! Craig has selected some great swing tunes for this dance, which is sponsored by DCLX, the Washington, D.C. Lindy Exchange. Come one, come all to the Spanish Ballroom on February 16!
From the Facebook invite:
“DCLX is proud to present the premier performance of The Craig Gildner Big Band in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park on Saturday, February 16th!
This 12 piece orchestra combines the finest talent from the DC area with vintage arrangements designed for dancing. A big band is only as good as its rhythm section, and The Craig Gildner Big Band is a serious contender. The dynamics and blend of the sections creates an exciting experience: it can whisper and roar all in the same song. Also featuring Lucian Cobb on trombone and the lovely Laura Windley on vocals from the Mint Julep Jazz Band. Don’t miss the premier event for CGBB!!
The dance is $16 and begins at 9pm.
There will be a beginner swing lesson included in the cost of the dance from 8:00-9:00 PM. (Dance from 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM.)
Hope to see you all there!
Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, Maryland”
I am excited to announce that I will be working at this year’s Lindy Focus Dance Camp in three capacities! First, I will be a part of the event’s DJ roster, spinning tunes in the Balboa room, now known as the Avalon Balboa Dance Party. It has been a dream of mine for years to be invited to DJ at Lindy Focus and I am excited to be invited to spin my favorite tunes (i.e. uptempo swing) for the event.
Second, I will be making an appearance as Lindy Shopper on a panel discussion during Lindy Focus’ Field Day – the discussion is titled “Scene Building in the Age of New Media” and I will be accompanied by four other esteemed panelists, including Dance World Takeover‘s Rebecca Brightly, Wandering and Pondering‘s Jerry Almonte, Mobtown Ballroom‘s Michael Seguin, and international dance instructor and swing jazz guitarist Mike Faltesek.
Finally, I’ll be singing a few tunes with the Solomon Douglas Swingtet on December 30!
Did I mention I was excited?! I mean, who isn’t excited about the opportunity to attend Lindy Focus? The cherry on my awesome LF sundae is that my husband, trombonist Lucian Cobb, will be working the event, as well, performing with Ben Polcer, Glenn Crytzer, and Solomon Douglas – huzzah!
It’s time for another production of North Carolina’s best cabaret show! Here’s the scoop:
The fiendish folks at The VaudeVillain Revue are back! And with more burlesque, vaudeville antics, smokin’ live music, circus and sideshow acts, and magic than ever before! Inspired by turn-of-the-century Paris, the Moulin Rouge, vintage dance halls and cancan dancers, all as seen through a glass of absinthe! Featuring some of your favorite VaudeVillains: Curtis Eller, Porcelain, Meka la Creme, Kegan Dean Rushing, the Amazing Leoni, Lady Gatita, and more! With special guests Onca O’Leary and The Mezmer Society!
For the first time ever, we are offering TWO SHOWTIMES – 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – with guaranteed seating for all ticket holders! First three rows $15 per person, general seating $12.00 Special party booths are available for up to 8 guests with table service and VIP gift bags awaiting you at your table! Only 2 available at each show…$150! Contact Virginia Scare to purchase – message via Facebook, email drsketchyraleigh@gmail.com, or call 919 454 3914.
Still very excited to be a part of this group – I will be singing in this show and dancing in two of the ensembles. If you haven’t been to one of the Vaudevillain Revue shows, you are definitely missing out!
Click here to purchase tickets.
7:00 p.m. early show
10:30 p.m. late show
Southland Ballroom
614 North West Street
Raleigh, NC
Laura Windley 